Ah, now that was the last thing he needed. There he was, hobbling like a mad yoke onto the stage whenever One Direction won an award, and then the Universe decides to reward him by getting him stuck in a lift and his crutches pilfered. Oh, the humanity! Next thing we'll be told he suffers from claustrophobia...
The One Directioner - who is indeed claustrophobic - was left in a panic when he got stuck in a cramped lift for the second time in three months at the Sony Belvedere bash, at Mayfair's Arts Club, in London on Wednesday night.
A source told The Sun: "Niall was with his security heading up to the party when the lift stalled for nearly five minutes. He was quite scared. One guy in the lift tried to film him (sound) and Niall asked his minders to ask him to delete the video."
Then he was struck with even more bad luck at the party as someone swiped his crutches, but they were later handed back in to reception.
The 20-year-old singer found himself in a similar situation last December when he suffered a panic attack after being caught inside a buggered lift in a hotel in Milan, Italy, along with a group of young adoring fans. Niiiightmare.
Young Niall has recently turned to self-help books in a bid to help him combat his claustrophobia and panic attacks. Speaking from experience, they can be extremely debilitating - if you let them be.
If I had to impart any advice, it wold be this (because he's obviously reading this) - just own the bastards, Niall. Whenever you feel the fear seeping into your stomach, and suddenly bolt up the back of your neck, seizing your brain, just say "Hello old friend. I'll be waving goodbye to you in a minute." Then, as mad as it sounds, smile. Also be aware that caffeine, florescent lights (unfortunately usually found in lifts) and tiredness can trigger panic attacks. No go forth and conquer all the lifts in the land!
